The first season of Shōgun was one of 2024’s most exciting entertainment events, as it rapidly became one of the best-performing series out. With a renewal in the horizon, it’s encouraging to know that the actor, who plays Lord Yoshii Toranaga, will return.

Per THR, Sanada reached a deal with FX to reprise his role as the quietly powerful character. Shōgun topped the Nielsen charts for multiple consecutive weeks, dethroning Netflix series, which tend to lead the rankings. It’s a no-brainer to renew the series for a second season, but if it happens, it will be slightly different from Season 1. While Sanada is signed on to potentially return, it's also reported that there are "other extenuating circumstances" holding up the renewal, so Season 2 still hasn't been greenlit just yet.

Excerpt from the official poster of
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Shōgun is "an epic drama rich with themes of power, war, and passion, set against the historical tapestry of feudal Japan. It follows John Blackthorne, an English privateer who is shipwrecked in Japan. There, he becomes a key player in the struggle for control of the nation, and the eventual establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate." Shōgun is based on a novel of the same name, penned by James Clavell. The author drew from real historical records about battles, political schemes, and the characters involved therein, and fictionalized them into a highly successful novel. Both in the book, and in the series, Lord Toranaga is one of the key players in the story.

Shōgun is FX’s most expensive series to date. Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo wrote the show, which was in development for over 6 years. In anticipation of the series’ release, FX Chairman John Landgraf expressed his hope that it would perform well in order to usher in a new era of “big-scope, big budget” series like it. Shōgun’s exceptional commercial performance bodes well for the exciting future of FX’s programming.

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Shōgun Was Conceived as a Limited Series

One of the primary considerations for Shōgun’s second season is the format. The “Limited Series” category in Emmy consideration will be tremendously competitive, largely because the strikes and the pandemic have made streamers lean heavily on the limited series format. Shōgun, despite being widely regarded as one of the best offerings in the category, would have to compete with 3 Body Problem, Baby Reindeer, A Gentleman in Moscow, and Griselda. However, if Shōgun was produced as a TV Drama, it would have a clearer path to victory. FX has declined to comment, and they have not announced any plot details for Season 2. This deal with Sanada, guaranteeing his return as Toranaga, is a crucial step in the process, as the show cannot go on without its titular Shōgun.

The first season of Shōgun is available for streaming on Hulu.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter